There is nothing nicer for Mum than coming home to find fresh baking on the bench and the kitchen tidy, just when she is dying for a cuppa. Date scones are my favourite, but they must be bulging with dates. Here I have added some cinnamon and lemon — yum. Make the scones in a wheel for a change — it's really quick and gives you lots of crunchy sides which are my favourite bits. Butter is a must.
WHOLEMEAL DATE AND LEMON SCONE WHEEL RECIPE
Makes 8-10
• 2 cups dried dates, cut into thirds
• 1 ½ cups plain flour
• 1 ½ cups wholemeal flour
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• Pinch salt
• 6 tsp baking powder
• Zest of 1 lemon
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 100g butter, cut into cubes
• 1 cup milk
• Icing sugar to dust
1. Preheat an oven to 200C.
2. Place the dates in a bowl and cover with boiling water for 10 minutes. Drain well.
3. Place the flours, sugar, salt, baking powder, zest, cinnamon and butter in a large bowl. Using your fingers, rub the butter into the flours until it forms breadcrumb-sized bits. Add the dates and mix through.
4. Pour the milk in the middle and mix through, using a knife with a cutting motion.
5. Place the mixture on a lightly floured bench and press into a circle. Cut into 8 or 10 wedges. Transfer to a baking tray and bake for 15 minutes, until golden and cooked through.
6. Serve warm, dusted with icing sugar and with butter on the side.
